BUSINESS partners who met over a pierced belly button have opened their own shop for Goths complete with a hearse!

Jason Wright, 34, and Claire Edwards, 25, both from Blackburn, have opened Hex Piercing Ltd at The Mall, Blackburn.

Claire said the idea for the business had been in the works for a few years since they met while he was piercing her belly button nine years ago.

She said: "After a while, we decided to go for it."

Their research included trips to Manchester which has similar stores.

The pair then obtained a loan from the Prince's Trust and got a six-month lease at the shopping centre which they hope to renew if business is successful.

Claire came up with the name, which was inspired by her business partner, who is also a practising witch'.

Over the last few weeks, there have been many whispers about Hex and a 1989 hearse appeared in the parking lot outside the Sir Charles Napier pub, Limbrick.

The hearse had a huge advertisement for the store with purple flames highlighting the doors of the car.

Jason said he bought the car from e-Bay and had to drive hundreds of miles to bring it to East Lancashire.

He also said the hearse was going to be made available for Goth weddings.

The store, with purple painted walls, sells clothes for men and women plus accessories.

"There are a lot of things in here that are one-offs," Claire said.

"When people go out, you won't see someone else wearing the same shirt.

"If you want anything weird, we will try to find it and sell it at the cheapest possible price."

Jason and Claire want to use the store to promote local designers, artists and musicians.

Claire added: "Students are welcome to show us some of their jewellery designs.

"We would also be willing to sell merchandise for local bands and artists."